United States Department Of Agriculture Food For Peace, Title Ii Program

The Food for Peace Program, Title II is administered by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) through its Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS), specifically within the International Food Assistance Division. This funding opportunity is designed to provide emergency food assistance globally using U.S.-sourced agricultural commodities. The program reflects a broader federal priority to address acute food insecurity while simultaneously supporting U.S. agricultural producers. It emphasizes accountability, traceability of funds and commodities, and measurable outcomes tied to humanitarian impact. The primary purpose of this funding opportunity is to furnish U.S. agricultural commodities to populations experiencing famine, food crises, or severe food insecurity. Eligible crisis conditions include situations where at least 20 percent of households face major food consumption gaps, where crises are caused by conflict or environmental disasters, or where existing response systems are overwhelmed and emergency declarations have been issued. The program is limited geographically to specific countries, including the Democratic Republic of the Congo, El Salvador, Ethiopia, Guatemala, Haiti, Kenya, and Rwanda. All assistance must be delivered using commodities that are 100 percent U.S.-origin, and cash-based assistance such as vouchers is not permitted. Funding under this opportunity is substantial, with total program funding of $357,000,000 and individual awards ranging from $20,000,000 to $200,000,000. Projects are expected to run between 18 and 24 months. A key financial requirement is that at least 50 percent of the total budget must be allocated to U.S. commodity procurement and ocean freight. While cost sharing is not required, applicants are encouraged to include matching contributions from private or nonprofit partners to enhance impact and may receive additional evaluation points for doing so. Eligibility is broad but structured. Public and private organizations, including intergovernmental and multilateral entities, may apply, provided they demonstrate capacity to deliver emergency food assistance in international contexts. Applicants must be registered in the System for Award Management and maintain active status throughout the project lifecycle. Certain entities, such as individuals, U.S. government agencies, and foreign governments, are not eligible. Applicants must also demonstrate prior experience or capacity in distributing food aid and managing humanitarian programs. The application process follows a two-phase structure. First, applicants must submit a Concept Paper, which includes a needs assessment, technical approach, budget overview, commodity plan, geographic targeting map, and past performance documentation. Only selected applicants are invited to submit a Full Application, which expands on technical design, organizational capacity, monitoring and evaluation, commodity logistics, and detailed budgeting. Submission of a concept paper or invitation to submit a full application does not guarantee funding. The process emphasizes alignment between concept and full application and requires strict adherence to formatting and page limits. Applications are evaluated through a merit-based review process. Criteria include the quality of the needs assessment, the feasibility and impact of the technical approach, budget clarity and cost-effectiveness, and the appropriateness of the commodity plan. Additional evaluation factors include organizational capacity, monitoring and evaluation systems, and logistical planning for commodity distribution. The review process includes eligibility screening, technical scoring, and final selection by agency officials, with consideration given to geographic balance and program priorities. The timeline for this funding opportunity includes a deadline for question submissions on June 3, 2026, and a concept paper submission deadline of June 12, 2026, both at 5:00 PM Eastern Time. Applicants are encouraged to submit early to avoid technical issues. If selected, applicants will receive instructions and deadlines for the full application phase. USDA communicates decisions via email, and final awards are issued through formal grant agreements. For inquiries, applicants may contact the program via email at foodforpeace@usda.gov.

Ensure at least 50 percent of budget is allocated to U.S. commodities and freight; demonstrate strong coordination with in-country partners; provide clear evidence of emergency food need; align concept paper closely with potential full application requirements; emphasize accountability and monitoring systems